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Joschka Fischer was German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor from 1998-2005, a term marked by Germany's strong support for NATO's intervention in Kosovo in 1999, followed by its opposition to the war in Iraq. Fischer entered electoral politics after participating in the anti-establishment protests of the 1960s and 1970s, and played a key role in founding Germany's Green Party, which he led for almost two decades.

Mr. Fischer, as always seems to confuse cause and remedy. For the EU to survive it needs to reform indeed. However, this cannot be done with a huge constitutional change. Unlike Mr. Fischer, in my opinion, Europe can only emerge from this deadlock by dismantling the corset of fiscal and economic unity. Yes, Europe is necessary to rid the Latin European economies from nepotism and shear corruption. But europe cannot interfere in the nitty-gritty process of running a country. Yes, there is nationalism both in the centre and the fringes of Europe. However, this Nationalism is the consequence of the loss of an European identity. The best case for Europe is for it to become a more modular entity. I like to view Europe from Benjamin Disraelis perspective. He was the visionary statesman and prime minister of the United Kingdom between 1874-1880, a period coinciding with the major upheavals in Europe and the formation of the Second German Empire. That is exactly the situation David Cameron finds himself in. First, quote attributed to Disraeli:"You have a new world, new influences at work, new and unknown objects and dangers with which to cope, at present involved in that obscurity incident to novelty in such affairs. We used to have discussions in this House about the balance of power. Lord Palmerston, eminently a practical man, trimmed the ship of State and shaped its policy with a view to preserve an equilibrium in Europe. [ . . . ] But what has really come to pass? The balance of power has been entirely destroyed, and the country which suffers most, and feels the effects of this great change most, is England." (Source: Hansard, Parliamentary Debates, Ser. III, vol. cciv, February-March 1871, speech of February 9, 1871, pp. 81-82.). This Mr. Cameron, and for that matter other leading British politicians have to think through thoroughly. In a face of an rapidly changing world, Europe has to stick together and must under no circumstances declare bankruptcy!

I understand that the claim is reiterated but it is not based on solid economical analysis. We have little evidence other than financial policy belief systems that a "fiscal cliff" would actually lead to a recession and a military confrontation with Iran seems unlikely as long as the Syrian situation remains unresolved.